Selected New Releases: April 7, 2017 – Part 3/3

More than 24 new works by Canadian recording artists released this past Friday have come to our attention. We’ll give our usual capsule reviews but are dividing the big lot into three parts alphabetically by title. Below are the stately eight of Part 3.

After hearing Toquade, violinists may be inspired to switch to the viola. Montreal’s Marina Thibeault plays it beautifully on works written for the instrument. There are covers and originals, and she is joined by expert pianist Janelle Fung on some of the tracks. CBC Music recently wrote a nice summary of this exquisite classical album.

Ottawa’s Lynne Hanson dispenses roots-inspired singer-songwriter album Uneven Ground. She is known as playing “porch music with a little red dirt” and her talent on this will brush off any dirt from your boots.

Allophone world music veteran Alex Cuba is back at it. We acquired him from, yes, Cuba, as he settled in Victoria, BC. The two-time JUNO winner contributes to the pool of music this week new album Lo Único Constante. This one is a laidback café music affair, mainly just voice and guitar with some delicate percussion and occasional backup singers.

Hailing from Lafontaine, ON, everybody’s favourite Franco-Ontarian (well, that’s debatable) Damien Robitaille returns with Univers parallèles. The album puts the swag in swagger with an upbeat pop that adds some rockin’ and dancey vibes here and there.

Montreal alternative trio Barry Paquin Roberge gets stranded on the Avalon after finding a pawn shop bargain. A-ha-ha. Voyage Massage is the name of the album. It’s actually an Anglo work that is quirky, funky, and fun. We dig it.

Vancouver alternative band The New Pornographers, still in the running, gift the world with album number seven, Whiteout Conditions. The band won a JUNO back in 2001. As one would expect, the new album is a strong one with lots of good songs.

A couple of EPs came to our attention this week. Jennifer Gélinas from Shawinigan dabbles in world music using multiple languages including French and Spanish on disc D’Kana. It features Antonio Idiaquez. Montreal’s Black Sails for Red Seas offers wall-of-sound alternative rock on EP Wave II.

Selected New Releases: 31 March 2015

La+ch has sidestepped from Toronto band Sideways for solo album +. It blends R&B singing with dancey beats and electronica. With the release of its last album White Paint, Ottawan Juno-nominated band Hollerado promised a customized song for each fan who pre-ordered it. The band has delivered on the promise releasing 111 Songs on 4-discs. Montreal instrumental post rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor should beef up its cult following with new atmospheric four-track LP Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress. Vancouver synth rock duo Dear Rouge launches debut album Black to Gold. We have embedded the eye-popping MV for the title track below.

The A-list singer-songwriters seem to have released new albums at the same time. Juno winner Ron Sexsmith drops his 14th album, Carousel One, and it’s one of his best with beautifully written jewels. Singer-songwriter Beth Moore from the Niagara region has won a number of awards in Ontario as well as the CBC. Five Out of Ten is her sophomore LP. The aforementioned Sexsmith appears as a featured artist along with David Myles, Alejandra Ribera, Kuba Oms, and Anya Marina on Alex Cuba‘s new LP, Healer. With it, The Smithers, BC Juno winner gives us a bilingual album: English and Spanish.

Hard rock lovers will rejoice for the fifth Three Days Grace album, Human. The Norwood, Ontario band has been nominated six times at the Junos, not winning one yet. However, the group has achieved multiplatinum status and hopes fans will accept new lead vocalist Matt Walst from My Darkest Days. Matt replaces Adam Gontier who departed for health reasons and is the brother of bassist Brad Walst. Also in the realm of high profilers is Mia Martina who gives us her self-titled second dance album which includes a few previously released hit singles and some new songs. The New Brunswick singer has scored three Juno nominations and three gold singles to date.

Lisbonne Télégramme is a new quartet that performs dream folk debuting with the compelling album Miroir d’automne. Le Vent du Nord performs more traditional folk; Têtu is the name of its new album. For those hungry for something weird and wonderful, a captivating, eponymous work has appeared from alternative act, The Loodies. All three of the above are from Montreal.

Valerie Lahaie was a contestant on The Voice. Her coach was rocker Éric Lapointe. She puts forth her debut rock album, Vertige that holds some really good numbers. Another exquisite singer-songwriter is Peter Katz from Toronto. He releases We Are the Reckoning which is quite mind blowing to say the least. Peter is a Juno nominee. Finally, we have an EP from Toronto’s Taylor Knox called Lines which is a rock work. We leave you with the promised MV from Vancouver’s Dear Rouge. Enjoy the music.